A Time To Love

by Lynn Emery

  “Afternoon, Mama.” James sat down. He fingered the wool designer cap he’d taken off his head.

  “Hello, son.” Mama Jo smiled at up at him. After a brief glance at her daughter-in-law, she went back to work weaving the threads of colorful yarn into patterns. “Shirley.”

  “Hello, Mama Jo.” Shirley ignored the slight with a toss of her head. She took off her bright green wool coat. “You’re looking well today.”

  “Um-hmm.” Mama Jo rocked the chair gently.

  “We’ve been having nice weather. Bet you’ve been able to go outside and exercise.” James twisted the cap in his big hands with short, jerky movements.

  “A few times when it got warm enough,” Mama Jo said.

  “Well that’s fine.” James sat silent for a few moments.

  “Yep.” Mama Jo rocked the oak chair gently.

  “Just what the doctor ordered as they say.” James let out a short laugh that ended in a croaking sound when Shirley shot him a mean look.

  Mama Jo folded the rug with care and set it aside on end table next to her. “Y’all didn’t drive out here to talk about the weather.”

  “We, uh....” James had the cap bunched into a ball.

  Shirley took over from her faltering mate. “We’re here to talk about the family business.”

  “That right?” Mama Jo stared at James hard.

  “Yes.” Shirley answered while James sat blinking rapidly.

  Mama Jo glanced from James to Shirley. She clutched her hands together tightly. “No.”

  “Yes. We’re long overdue for this talk,” Shirley said. She seemed excited, her eyes glittered with triumph. “Long overdue.”

  Chapter 13

  Chandler felt as though he were suspended up high as the multi-colored balls that twirled overhead. Red and green splashes of light filled the room. Neva felt so right in his arms.

  “Nine, eight, seven....” The crowd counted as a huge Mardi Gras mask on a long pole slid down. “Happy New Year!” Shouts and yells went out mixed in the sound of fireworks outside.

  “Happy New Year,” Neva called out. She tilted her head up to receive his kiss.

  Chandler let his tongue take a long, leisurely tour of the soft lips before tasting the sweetness of her mouth fully. “Happy New Year, love.”

  “It sure is. You’ve made tonight so special. Thank you.” Neva touched his face with her finger tips.

  “If you’re happy, I’m happy.” Chandler pressed her to him and led her in a dance to the jazzy rendition of Auld Ang Sine.

  “This is the best start to a new year I’ve ever had.” Neva leaned against him with a sigh.

  “I didn’t believe in fate or some kind of mystical love. I’d make fun of those romantic songs and fairy tales.” Chandler stroked her back. “Man, how wrong can a guy be!”

  Neva looked up at him. “I didn’t think I’d find this kind of happiness either.”

  “But we have. I don’t intend to let it slip away.” Chandler wanted to give her the world. He wanted to be the only one to put those stars in her eyes. “We’re going to make the rest of the year just as special as tonight. The rest of our lives, too.”

  “No, let’s not look too far into the future,” Neva said. “What we have right now is awesome enough. Let’s savor it.”

  “Neva, I want my future to be with you. But I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

  “I don’t have any doubts about loving you,” Neva said, her voice intense.

  “Then we’re going to be together.” Chandler drew the words out for emphasis. He wanted to be with her so much, it was like an aching need every minute of the day.

  “Yes,” was her soft reply.

  The rest of the evening spun out like a dream come true. They clung to each other wrapped in their own world of love.

  ***

  “Happy New Year!” Shirley joined in the chorus of party goers. She drank all the champagne from her glass. “Here, James. Drink up.”

  James wore a sour look that was definitely out of place in the festive atmosphere of the Hilton Hotel ballroom in Baton Rouge. He tasted from the long stem goblet and frowned. Without a change in expression, he looked around at the three other couples that shared their table. All were friends with whom they swapped dinner invitations. The women were, like Shirley, expensively attired. They frequently looked around to make sure others saw them. Their husbands drank lots of alcohol and looked around quite a bit, too. At other, younger women.

  “You’re right. I haven’t had enough to drink to get through this night,” James muttered. He drank the bubbly liquid. “I need real liquor.”

  “Maybe you better not, honey.” Despite her use of the endearment, Shirley’s voice had a razor sharp edge. “Let’s dance instead.” Before he could object, she grabbed his hand and pulled him from his seat. She forced him to move as the band played Unforgettable.

  “I’d rather just go up to the room.” James moved around the dance floor woodenly. “Failing that, I’m going to have a whiskey sour. More than one.”

  “Don’t you dare get sloppy drunk,” Shirley said in a low voice close to his ear. When a distinguished looking couple swayed near, she smiled at them. “Hello Dr. and Mrs. Effington.” They nodded to her before drifting away again after a few moments.

  “You’re too much. Kissing up to those snobs. I don’t give a damn what they think.” James did not bother to look at the couple.

  “That’s obvious,” Shirley hissed. “You could at least think of your children’s future. These people have the kind of connections that our son will need later.”

  “All he has to do is study and keep his ass out of trouble,” James retorted. His voice had risen.

  “Don’t make a scene!” Shirley glanced around quickly. “You have no right to take such a self-righteous tone,” she said low.

  “What does that mean?”

  “For years I’ve listened to you moan about being overlooked by your father. How Roy got the best of everything. So don’t try to make me sound like the villain.” Shirley looked up at him. “You want more of the business as much as I do.”

  James looked away from her penetrating gaze. “Not the way you’ve gone about it.”

  “Pl-ease,” she retorted. “You can’t even look me in the eye when you say that. For the first time in your life you’re going to take over.”

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Of course you can. I’ll help you.” Shirley flashed a smile at him. “Now we’ll get what we should have had years ago.”

  “We’ve always done well.” James did not seem encouraged by her words. “I keep thinking of that saying ‘Be careful asking for what you want, you just might get it’.”

  “Stop being so negative, darling.” Shirley waved at a female judge and her husband as they danced by. “We’re on top. Among the rich and prominent is exactly where we should be.” She wore a look of supreme satisfaction. “Exactly where we belong.”

  “You mean where you’ve always wanted to belong,” James said.

  Shirley glanced at him. “Don’t throw your family name at me. The famous Sterling clan,” she mocked. “I was never good enough in their eyes. Or yours.”

  “How many times have I tried to tell you that’s not true? I never cared about who your parents or grandparents were, Shirley.” James gazed at her with a sad, weary set to his face. “You’ve imagined slights that never happened.”

  “You chose not to see the way your family treated me. Well it doesn’t matter now.” Shirley tossed her head. “We’re on equal terms.”

  “Is that what will finally make you happy?”

  “Yes. It should make you happy, too. Now come on. We’re going to have a good time.” Shirley joined in the applause as the song ended. “This is our time, James.”

  James stood as though he did not notice their surroundings. “I wonder if it will be worth it.”

  ***

  “A wonderful time was had by all, eh?” Lainie wink
ed at her. “Some way to ring in the New Year, child.”

  Neva smiled softly, a smile that was left over from her magical holiday in New Orleans with Chandler. “We danced and laughed all night.”

  “Not all night I’ll bet.” Lainie snickered.

  “Well....” Neva let her silence speak. “Never mind details.”

  “Humph, I took one look at that big smile and knew all I needed to know.” Lainie waved a hand at her. She lost the look of amusement. She held up a sheet of paper. “Got the estimate from the painter. Too bad somebody decided to ring in the year with vandalism.”

  “Probably teenagers out drinking,” Neva said. “A prank.”

  “Those words they painted on the wall were more like a threat. Good thing we put a steel door in back.” Lainie put a fist on her hip. “I’ll bet they were trying to rob the place.”

  “The alarm probably made them wet their pants. Kids.” Neva shook her head.

  “Neva, I don’t mean to be a scary cat but....” Lainie walked over to one of the two broken windows along the east wall facing the road. “I don’t like the feel of this.”

  “You’re letting your imagination run wild. How many times have we talked about juvenile crime spreading even out here?”

  Neva tried not to admit even to herself what the cold feeling along her spine might mean. She had the image of crooked letters spray painted in black burned into her mind. The obscene message had seemed more than the result of youthful rebellion. There was a malevolent aura that hung around the Fish Shack. So much so that Neva had cringed each time she’d looked at the words. With a shiver, she rubbed the chill bumps on her arms.

  “I knew it!” Lainie pointed at her. “You can’t fool me. You know something.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Neva said. She marched over to the window. “There’s a draft in here. We need to put another piece of cardboard up. Thank goodness Mr. Potter can replace the glass today.”

  “Neva, look me in the eye and tell me you don’t have one of those funny feelings.”

  “I wish you could hear yourself right now.” Neva was busily arranging the curtain. She grabbed a feather duster from behind the counter and began swiping it at a row of jars filled with canned fruit. “You should know better.”

  “Fine. Just turn right around then,” Lainie insisted.

  “Really, Lainie! Next you’ll be talking about the full moon and burning black candles.” Neva let out a brittle laugh. She’d tried to make it sound light but failed badly.

  Lainie walked over to her and stood with feet apart. “You still haven’t looked at me.”

  “With all the work we have to do around here–” Neva moved down the aisle away from her.

  “Good Lord have mercy!” Lainie let out a gasp. “Whenever you get this jittery, we better do more than burn candles.”

  Neva finally faced her with crossed arms. “It’s nothing. I mean, it’s natural to be upset when your property has been damaged.” She did not even sound convincing to herself.

  “You better talk to Mama Jo. She’ll be able to read the signs and see just who did this.”

  “No! Mama Jo doesn’t need to be upset.”

  “Everybody in Solitude will know by lunchtime.” Lainie took the duster from Neva’s hands. “It would be better if she hears it from you first.”

  Neva could not deny the truth. The foot high letters faced a road many residents travelled daily. It would be the main topic of conversation around the tiny community in no time.

  “You’re right. I’ll go over as soon as Kenia gets here.” Neva gazed around. “And Jeroyd.”

  “Girl, sit down now and tell me what’s going on.” Lainie pulled her over to the two stools in front of a short counter of the new deli corner.

  “I don’t know. I don’t,” Neva cried at the skeptical look her cousin gave her. “Okay, maybe those filthy words got me shook up a little.”

  “A little? I saw your face. You looked like Count Dracula had popped up to wave ‘hello’.”

  “Those words were so... ugly. It’s as though they were directed at me.” Neva suppressed another shiver.

  “Who would want to hurt me and the store?”

  “Desiree for one. Then there’s that snake of a boyfriend she’s got. He’d do it for kicks.” Lainie made a rude noise to show what she thought of the offending couple.

  “Desi wouldn’t go that far.” Neva shook her head.

  “We both know Desiree up and down. Remember what she did to Gabrielle Chaisson in junior high? That girl still crosses the street when she sees Desiree.”

  Neva rejected her argument. “You can’t compare ripping up a cheerleading outfit to this.”

  “She hasn’t changed.” Lainie leaned forward to make her point. “Desiree would do anything to get her hands on the Fish Shack again.”

  “Exactly. So why would she hurt business?” Neva could see she’d made a good point when Lainie’s brow furrowed. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  “Maybe she figures it’s worth the risk,” Lainie offered. She sounded less sure of herself.

  “Face it, Lainie. Desiree wouldn’t kill the golden goose. She knows we’re doing better than ever.”

  “Then who?”

  Neva sat silent for a moment. “All things considered, it has to be what I thought at first. It was some teenagers. I’m overreacting.”

  “Yeah, right.” Lainie did not appear reassured.

  Neva glanced around when the door opened causing the bell over it to jingle. “Here’s Kenia. Don’t get her upset with spooky talk.”

  “Of course not. No need for all of us to live in fear.” Lainie gave a dramatic shudder.

  “Cut that out.” Neva got up to meet the young woman half-way. “Morning, Kenia.”

  “Mornin’. Say who put that junk on the wall outside?” Tall and with smooth dark skin, she wore a look of outrage. “Some knotty head thugs I bet.”

  Neva went on with her work as Lainie gave her an explanation that reinforced that theory. Thank goodness. Now how was she going to tell Mama Jo? The one thing she worried was that the strong old woman would launch her own investigation. Kenia’s voice cut into her thoughts.

  “Guess things gonna be quiet for a while ‘til all that holiday food runs out.”

  Neva forced a smile. “They’ll probably be sick of turkey and wanting something different.”

  She let out a sigh of relief when it seemed Kenia did not notice the high strain in her voice. Kenia prepared for customers. Neva sat and watched her work around behind the counter as she hummed a popular tune. “Good thing she’s so level-headed,” Lainie said in an undertone. “Of course she’s faced a lot tougher things in her life.”

  “We could take a lesson,” Neva said. “Here we are getting ourselves all worked up. Talking about hoodoo and such.” She put all her might into being the voice of reason.

  “Our people have the gift. Folks have talked about it for over a hundred years.” Lainie was not dissuaded.

  ”You make us sound a family of sorcerers,” Neva complained. When she saw Lainie’s expression did not change, Neva sighed. “I give up.”

  “Might as well. Now go tell Mama Jo.”

  “Yeah, I’d better. Bad news moves through Solitude like a speeding bullet.”

  Neva went to the office and called her grandmother. Mama Jo had a few choice words for “those heathens” as she called them. She went on about the failures of modern parenting practices and the juvenile justice system. Neva was content to let her ventilate. As long as she did not sense something more sinister, Neva would listen. After about two minutes of a mini-tirade, Mama Jo wound down and turned her attention to the repairs.

  “You got somebody fixin’ the windows? What about the walls? Call Isaac Peters. He’s the best painter around. Course his youngest son really runnin’ things now days.” Mama Jo went on as though she might come out to supervise things herself.

  “Yes and I’ve called Ike Jr. all ready. So relax. Nothing to wor
ry about.” Neva wanted to take back the last sentence but it was too late.

  Mama Jo was quiet for several seconds before she spoke. “Why should I worry? What ain’t you told me?”

  “All I meant was we’re taking care of things. I know how much you like order.” Neva spoke in a matter-of-fact manner.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you when you get home.”

  “Sure. Tell me all about Oprah when I get there,” Neva said brightly.

  “Yeah... Neva, we got more to talk about than Oprah. I– Don’t work too late this evenin’.”

  Neva closed her eyes. Darn this family gift! “Yes, ma’am.” She hung up and went back out to the store front.

  Lainie eyed her. “Was she upset?”

  “No– yes. I’m not sure.” Neva glanced around to make sure they were alone. Three customers were buying sausage biscuits from Kenia. “I think she picked up on something in my voice,” she mumbled.

  “Uh-huh. Better you than me.” Lainie dark eyebrows went up almost to her hairline. “Take my advice and don’t try feeding her the line you gave me. Here comes Deputy Sykes.”

  Jessie Sykes climbed out of his cruiser like he was getting off a horse. The tall man had sandy hair and freckles. He clomped across the wooden porch and into the store.

  “Here comes the Calvary,” Lainie said with a roll of her eyes.

  “Don’t start. At least he’s better than Sheriff Tyson.”

  “He’s in the Bellows family pocket just like his boss.”

  “Keep your voice down,” Neva whispered.

  Sykes only gave them a curt nod as a greeting. “Somebody called in a report on criminal damage to property.” He stood with his legs apart like a gunslinger in an old western movie.

  “Yes. This way.” Neva shot a warning glance at her cousin.

  Deputy Sykes wore an impassive face as Neva led him around the outside of the store pointing to the graffiti. He made notes on a tiny wire-bound pad. She stood by as he inspected the ground apparently looking for evidence. At one point he kneeled down to pick up an object.